Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I support these amendments. It is hard to figure out why amendments such as these have to be tabled. The tenet of the Bill appears to be that if a marriage breaks down or ceases to exist after family reunification, those who have come here to be reunited with family will lose their rights to residency. This is bizarre. It is supposed to be a humanitarian system which is concerned with protection and allows family reunification. This is a recognised international standard but we are telling refugees they are welcome to come here and stay provided they remain married, even where the relationship is abusive. With the best will in the world, a relationship might break down. Irish citizens are entitled to move on and create new lives for themselves but the families of refugees and those who have obtained international protection will be obliged to stay in dead relationships. It is absolutely crazy.

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